Guardians Of The Herd: A Kosovo Family's Passion For Raising Deer
With Kosovo's native deer population under threat from illegal hunting, one family in the hills northeast of Pristina has committed to raising deer on their lands for conservation.
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In the village of Orllan in Podujeva, some 30 kilometers northeast of Pristina, a herd of approximately 20 deer stands peacefully amid the picturesque, snow-covered landscape on January 11.
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The lands where these animals thrive belong to the Tullari family, who began raising deer approximately 10 years ago as a hobby.
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Agron Tullari feeds a stag by hand. The family welcomes visitors to see the animals firsthand.
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The deer and fallow deer on this farm are of different species, though Scandinavian and European breeds dominate.
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In addition to the herd in Orllan, the Tullari family has another larger herd in the village of Sharban. For now, the family is only interested in cultivation.
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The animals must be fed every day, especially during the winter months.
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In the late fall to early winter, the deer will shed their antlers.
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Following the rutting -- or mating -- season, the stags will also shed their antlers.
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The goal of the Tullari family is to increase the size of their herd, ensuring a lasting presence in the rolling hills of Kosovo.
